ON THIS DAY
WE BLINk 15 times a minute on average. However people blink less while lying, and up to eight times faster than usual afterwards. IN LIfE-THREATENING situations, only 15 per cent of people will immediately respond in a way that would help them survive. One in ten will react so badly it would be more likely to get them killed. CALI in Colombia was the world’s 15th most dangerous city last year, with a homicide rate of 83 in 100,000. (San Pedro Sula in Honduras was the most dangerous: 171/100,000). In England and Wales there were 515 homicides — in a population of about 60 million. IN 351 BC, the plebeians or ‘plebs’ of Ancient Rome were given their first taste of democracy — the right to stand for election as Censor, the officer responsible for maintaining public morality. CLARk GABLE was the most famous member of the 351st Bomb Group, part of the U.S. airforce based at Polebrook, Northamptonshire, in World War II. film star Gable flew on five combat missions — often under enemy fire — which were filmed for Combat America, a propaganda film. CLAUDIA WINkLEMAN, 44 (right). The Londonborn presenter of Strictly Come Dancing. Her mother, Eve Pollard, was only the second female national newspaper editor in post-War Britain. Claudia’s half-sister Sophie is married to Lord frederick Windsor — the 46th in line to the throne. JAMES NESBITT, 51. The Northern Ireland actor is best known for TV series Cold feet. When offered the role of Bofur in The Hobbit film series, he hadn’t read the book or seen any of the Lord of the Rings films. PETE WATERMAN, 69. The Coventry-born record producer and former reality TV judge on Pop Idol and Popstars: The Rivals made stars of Rick Astley, Jason Donovan and kylie Minogue. Waterman, an avid railway buff, was an early mentor of Simon Cowell. IVOR NOVELLO (1893-1951). The Cardiffborn actor, playwright, composer and songwriter. The Ivor Novello Awards (for songwriting and composing) were named after him 1955. In World War II he was jailed for four weeks for flouting petrol rationing. MARTIN LUTHER king Jr (1929-1968, right). The American Baptist minister and Civil Rights leader who led the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott and made his ‘I have a dream’ speech in front of 250,000 people in Washington DC in 1963. When king was assassinated outside his motel room in Memphis, while he stood outside smoking, one of his aides removed the cigarettes from king’s jacket so the public wouldn’t discover he was a smoker. fRANk THORNTON (1921-2013). The London-born actor is best known as Captain Peacock in Are You Being Served? In World War II he was in an RAf entertainment unit and found himself responsible for Tony Hancock, Dick Emery and Peter Sellers. IN 1759, the British Museum opened. Visitors had to apply for tickets 14 days in advance. IN 1815, Lady Hamilton, Lord Horatio Nelson’s mistress, died in poverty in Calais, ten years after her famous lover died in battle. IN 1867, the Uk’s worst ice skating disaster occurred as 40 people drowned in Regent’s Park, London, when the ice broke. The most effective way to do it, is to do it. Aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart (1897-1937)
Atheism is a non-prophet organisation.
IT’S DAY 15 OF 2016
THERE ARE 351 DAYS LEFT
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
BORN ON THIS DAY
ON JANUARY 15 . . .
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